The New York State Fair opens in seven days, and it’s been a long wait for fairgoers and vendors. Last year, the Fair was canceled for the first time since World War II.

It will be a different Fair experience this summer for a number of reasons. First and foremost, everyone will have to wear a mask inside the buildings, including vaccinated and unvaccinated guests.

Grazi Zazzara, the owner of Pizze Fritte and other stands across the fairgrounds, said he has been at the Fair for 60 years, and this year is weird. He doesn’t know what to expect come August 20.

“It’s just a different feeling,” said Zazzara. “The public has been pretty good. We had some events through the summer. They’ve been patient, which I was shocked about. Because before, everyone wants now, now, now, hurry, hurry, hurry. I think people realize times have changed.”

The Fair is 18 days long for the first time, which presents additional challenges for vendors.

Vendors have been struggling to hire workers. Zazzara has been holding hiring fairs for about a month. In normal circumstances, he recruits people about four days ahead of the State Fair’s opening and never has trouble getting enough staff.

Zazzara needs more than 100 people to staff his stands including ice cream, lemonade, Pizze Fritte and drinks. Since he will be operating beer and wine stands at the Expo Center, he needs staff who are old enough to serve alcohol, in addition to teens. Zazzara is about halfway to his hiring goal.

“The challenges are going to be, obviously help, which is always a challenge out at the Fair,” said Zazzara. “We hire younger kids at most of our stands, you know, we’ll hire adults. It’s hit or miss. Kids nowadays, some want to work. Some want a job. We want people who want to work.”

Another challenge of an 18-day Fair is scheduling. Hospitality workers cannot work more than six days a week. When the Fair was 12 days, that’s two six-day weeks, so everyone can work every day. With an 18-day fair, people need days off, so vendors are looking for more staffers at a time when’s it’s already difficult to find people to work.

Zazzara will be hiring workers during the Fair if you go up to one of his stands and offer to help. Interested workers can call 315-703-9620 to get on the schedule now.

Another change is Centro is scaling back park and ride options. Buses to the Fair will run from the downtown hub, Long Branch Park or Destiny USA. Drop-off will be at the main gate.